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Nigerian doctors' mass strike hits patients

Protest over pay rise by about 1,000 doctors in Lagos state hospitals leaves many dead.

08 May 2012 21:26 GMT

A two-week-long mass strike by doctors, who demanded a pay rise from hospitals in the Nigerian state of Lagos, has taken a deadly toll on a significant number of patients in need of urgent medical care.

Hospital staff say many patients have either died or continue to suffer as the strike by about 1,000 doctors paralysed the medical institutions.

All of the doctors have reportedly been sacked for striking after the state government refused to give them the same salaries as doctors working for federal-run hospitals.

The state of Lagos says it has recruited more than 300 new doctors to take their place.